Hartland recovers from extreme winds and tornado

(ABC 6 News) – Severe winds and a tornado tore through Hartland — a town of about 300 people — Wednesday night. Thursday, the community focused on recovering.

"This is completely out of the blue," said resident Matt Beckmann.

People in Hartland are still not sure exactly what happened. Strong winds reaching at least 70 miles per hour blew through the area. What people do know is that the damage is extensive.

"It was pretty devastating. This just looks like a lot of work," Beckmann said of his damaged home.

Arcadian Bank in Hartland released a statement Thursday stating they are temporarily closed due to the storm damage. Residents living near the bank lost roofing and insulation. One neighbor even had a trampoline blown up into their tree, and homeowner Melissa Bell lost her entire garage.

"My husband and family and the community — we’re really involved. And we’ve got people who can help us out. Kind of naturally you’re like who has time for this? There’s a frustration that comes with it," Bell said.

Residents were filing out of their homes and offering to help. Some strangers drove into town with spare power tools for cleanup.